Welcome to Spring

Spring has officially arrived and I have a sudden urge to throw open the windows and start a garden project or two. It’s a season full of potential, and in this issue, we celebrate that spirit. in food, creativity, and in the way we live and connect.

We begin by wandering through the magnificent grounds of Wombat Park Estate, where centuries-old trees, rare botanical specimens, and a landmark Arts and Crafts home remind us that history grows slowly and beautifully.

Next, we meet Maya, a local artist who moved to Hepburn Springs during the pandemic and found herself painting faeries and making pigments from walnut husks and foraged acorns. Her story is full of mythology and magic.

Then we head to Trentham, recently crowned Top Tiny Tourism Town in Australia! We visit Gabrielle Jordan and Mitchell Reed Rogers, the dynamic duo behind Adeline - their third venue in this charming town which is part cheese and wine bar, part cosy café, with a lemon tart you won’t forget. Also in Trentham, Christina Tantsis is turning chocolate into art at Sisko Chocolate. A former florist with a flair for the immersive, her handmade orbs and ethical sourcing reflect her belief that while “chocolate is global, connection is local.”

In Daylesford, a teapot and a property appraisal became the unlikely start of a love story, and a business. At Spa Country Real Estate, Suzi and Sebastian blend heritage, and hospitality with a quiet reverence for home. Their story, steeped in warmth and purpose, lingers like a good brew.

And finally, at Passing Clouds in Musk, the cellar door experience is being gently reimagined: sip cool-climate pinot beside a charcoal-cooked lunch or enjoy a guided tasting with a seasonal snack. It’s flexible, generous, and perfectly suited to a slow country afternoon. So, as spring unfurls and the days become longer, I hope this issue offers you some moments of pause and inspiration.

Melissa Jenkins,
Editor